Furnace for treating refractory ores



(No Model.) a sneeti-sheet 1. F. G. BUTTERPIELD.

FURNACE FOR TREATING REFRACTORY ORES. No. 518,662. PatentedApr. 24, 1894.

244M244 4W h 1 ZlZMmy- (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

. F. 0. BUTTERPIELD.

FURNACE FOR TREATING REFRACTORY 033s.

' No. 518,662. Patented Apr. 24, 1894.

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(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 3. F. 0. BUTTERPIELD.

FURNACE FOR TREATING REFRACTORY ORES. No. 518,662. Pat ented Apr. 24', 1894.

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(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

F. O. BUTTERFIELD. FURNACE FOR TREATING REFRACTORY ORRS. No. 518,662.

Patented Apr. 24, 1894.

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(No Model.) v 6 Sheets-Sheet 5. F. G. BUTTERFIELD; FURNACE FOR TREATING EEFRAGTORYORES.

No. 518,662. Patented Apr. 24, 1894.

'(No Model.) a sheets -Sheet s.

' F. 0. BUTTERPIELD. PURNAGEFOR TREATING REFRAGTORY ORES.

me NA'HONAL umoaumma DGMPANY WABHINGTON u c FESSENDEN O. BUTTERFIELD, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR OF THREE-FOURTHS TO LOUIS S. CASS, OF SUMNER, IOWA, ANIJDANIEL B.

BURDETT, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

FURNACE FOR TREATING REFRACTORY ORES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 518,662, dated April 24, 1894.

Application filed April 24, 1893. Serial No. 7 65- (N de -l To on whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FESSENDEN G. BUTTER- FIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Furnaces for Treating Refractory Ores; and I do.

hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description of the invention, such [0 as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention was especially designed, for

use in treating gold and silver bearing ores,

but is also applicable to ores containing other [5 kinds of metals.

It is well known, that ores as they come from the mine usually contain manykinds of ingredients. For example, gold and silver bearing ores will often contain sulphur, arse- 2o nic, antimony; phosphorus, iron, lead, copper, and other base metals, tellurium, &c.; and these various ingredients are not ordinarily in a free state, but are in combination with other elements, in the form of sulphu- 2 5 rets, phosphorets, arseniates, antimoniates,

tellnrides, &c. Forthe past twenty-five years or more, it has been well-known to persons skilled in the art, that one of the most efficient methods of treating such refractory ores, with a view of driving off, by volatilization, such of said elements as are volatilizable at lower temperature than the precious metals, oxidizing such of said metals as are oxidizable under the action of flame, and with a view 3 5 of reducing the refractory ores containing the precious'metals into a suitable condition for milling, amalgamation, and other subsequent steps of treatment, has been to subject the ores to the direct action of an oxidizing flame, in a so-called roasting furnace, and, coincidently therewith, to successively chill the hot ores by intermittently applying thereto either water or a solution of water and salt, or other chemicals.

Various forms of apparatus have been designed and used for carrying out the method of treatment outlined in the foregoingparagraph.

Myfinvention has for its object to provide a furnace or apparatus for carrying out this old method of treating refractory ores in a more rapid,efficient and economical manner.

To this end, my invention consists in certain novel devices and combinations of devices, which will be hereinafter fully described and be defined in the claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein, like letters referring to like parts throughout the several views- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through my improved furnace, on the line X X of Fig. 2, some parts being broken away, and others shown in diagram only. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the head or receiving end of the furnace, with some of the parts removed. Fig. 3 is a cross section, on the line X X of Fig. 1, looking toward the front. Fig. 4: is a cross section, on the line X X of Fig. 1, looking towardthe front. Fig. 5 is an 76 outside view of some of the parts shown in Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow Y, placed near said Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is adetail, partly in elevation and partlyin section, of the spraying pipe, used inside the furnace drum, 7 5 together with a part of its valve mechanism. Fig. 7 is a cross section, on the line X X of Fig. Fig. 8 is a detail in section, showing a part of the fuel supply pipe, with modified form of tuyeres. Fig. 9 is a cross section, on theline X X of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a detail in end elevation, illustrating a device for adj usting the fuel supply pipe and tuyeres. Fig.

11 is a detail in section, illustrating a spraying pipe with rotary instead of sliding valves. 8 5 Fig. 12 is a crosssection of the same, on the line X X of Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a view, partly in front elevation, and partly in diagram, illustrating the valve controlling mechanism, as applied to the rotary valves shown in Figs. 0 11 and 12. Fig. 14 is a view in diagram, designed to illustrate the relative actions of the rotary. drum burner and spraying pipe on the ores.

or represents bed-sills or other fixed structure, upon which the other parts are mounted.

a is an adjustable platform pivoted at its rear end on the structure a, as shown at a and securable in any desired vertical adjustment at its forward end, by means of wrench- I00 g with: an annularworm-gear b on the exterior I 2 7 I r traces r gitudinal girders and crossgti'es of angle-iron. 1

' The platform d is provided with brackets a in which are j ournaled grooved rollers a f arrangedto form a saddle, for supporting the rotary furnace drum?) b ,which is provided on its exterior withannularprojecting ribs or rings b resting on the bodies and. working *betweenthe fiangesof said rollers a The platform a also carriesbearing brackets a in which is mounted agworin shaft 0, provided with a driving pulley of, fertile application of power. The worth of the shaftc, engages 1' of the rotary drum 5. 6 or, revo.lving ,the

same, The said rotary drain is composed of 5 an outside metallic shell'b and'an inside lining 1) of fire-clay, fire-brick'or other highly refractory material, whiclr'is provided with i V longitudinal corrugations or stepsbflon its i the introduction of a fluid 'fuehfor the pros' duction of an oxidizing flameinside the reinterior surface.

is'journaled a fuel supply pipe cl, adapted for tary drum. The said l fuel supply pipe extends through the drurniandis provided with radially projecting tuyeres d, whieh'are preferably of yoke-like form, as shown in Fig. 1, and are provided with discharge or burner drum and belowitsaxis in position to deliver heavily eharged'with oxygen :by aforced yoke-like form, as shown inj Figs. l and 3, may

blast of air or otherwise, so as to produce a powerful oxidizing flame. The radially projecting'tuyeres d, instead of being of the bein'the form of hollow-projecting arms 02 as shown in Figs. Sand 9.1 The supply pipe 01, together with thetuyeres d, will hereinafter, for convenience, be called the burner.

1 I also desire to note, thatI do notconfinemyself to thisformof burner; In a hroa'dpoint of View, any forrnof burner located inside the rotary drum, and capable of delivering flames directly onto the 'ore under the action of the drum, would bewithinthescope, of

w my invention. It might; be possible, for example, in some classes of ores, to even use a fuel, providedfonly" that the cagefbe so arranged, with respect to its flame openings and itssupply of air or oxygem'as to deliver the same directly onto the ore. The burner cl d" is angularly adjustable, in its hearings on the pillow blocks or supports a, for properly directing the delivery of flames from the cage forthe burner andwoodor coal for the tuyeres. Provisioumay also be made for adjusting the burner'toward and from the, bearing surface of the drum; This maybe readily. accomplished; by providing eccentric, v

boxes (:1 for the end'softhel supply piped, V 1 which maybe held in any desired position, i j

'byja'm screvvs dies shown in Fig. lOfl At thesarhe time, the angularadjustinent may be readily permitted, by rotating the piped in the eccentric-boman'dsecuring the same in any desired position, by sebscrew If! a both of these adjustments are to be provided for,-eceentric-boxesg of this kind Wouldbe 101-; pcatedwin each of the'pillow-bloclrs a. If'the; "eccentric boxes are or: are not used, the an: gnlaif adjustment-inf theburner'may be read -j ily effected by wrenchgpins dnfat one-endo the pipe d, andthesamemay beheld ma y. desiredadjustment,byset-s'crews d ,working through the: cap member of'either of thebear- I 4 ing boxes.

I e is the spraying I pipe, journaled as shown I v ,in the pillow-blocks a", and extending through Rising" from the platform, aflat its opposite ends, are pillow-blocks 'or supports a, in which i v s v :99 the rotary drum and providedvW-ith a sup plyg V pipes, and a waste pipe 6?, This spraying p1 pe eis provided with perforatedvalve-seats 1 ciwhichas shoWn-,inFigs. 6 and7, are fitted with sliding valvesctattached to a common a valve-rode, normally held in their closed po-r v Sition, bya spring e a'gainstaspider-like'stop moving parts.

6? for the rod, andsuloject to the action of a "valve controlleroperated either bythe drum, as shown, or someyotherofthe constantly rec};

Asshown, the valveco'ntroller consistsof a rocker-e ,jonrnaledin bearings e projecting Q frornthe front pillow block a, the upper crank-armhe of which rocker, isconnectedr tothe' front end of the valve: rod e5, andthe' i lower crank arn1' e l of which rocker, is snh- I ,ject to the action of, a trip-lug e1 earriedlon thefrontr-im ofthedrumr 'In'virtue of this it construction, ityis obvious,that at each revo-w" lntion of the drum, the rocker e 'will be given an outward throw, thereby sliding the valverod c and thevalves 6 against the tension of it the spring e? and uncovering vthe perforated,

valveeseats e perforated valve-seats e fitted with rotary I a 5 Instead of having slid ng valves,as;just described, the spraying pipe (2 mayhave itsf valves e carried on a comnoonrotaryvalm- 7 rod e, which is operated (by aslightly'n odi fied; form ofvalve controller. These parts j are shown in Figs.- ll, 12 and 13. The rocker forthe rotary valve, may be a simple bellcranke l pivoted on a stud e projecting inr 1 ward from" the front pillow-block a or, car

ried by some "other fixed part, the lower arm "of which is in position to bejstrnck bythe trip e onthe drum; and the upper arm of which islconneeted by a buckle equipped rod I 1 I r32: I The rockexgfv'alverod and 1 i valves, areheld in theirnormal or closedposition of the'valveabyaretracting spring 6-19, I applied to the'valve-rod arme. This spring 6 witha'crankarmc on the outer end of the valve rod.

holds the said arm e against a fixed stop 6 The buckle on the rod (2 permits any desired throw to be given to the rocker a, under the action of the drum trip e This rotary valve construction is preferable to the sliding valves in the spray pipe, for the reason that it permits of any desired rotary movement of the valves 6 and enables the discharge to be graduated, at will, throughout the entire length of the spray-pipe e. The spray pipe 6 and its valved discharge openings will be used for introducing the water, with an intermittent action for chilling the ore. It may also be used, for introducing any other liquid solutions or chemicals, such as a solution of salt for chloridizing the ores, or otherwise chemically treating the same. i

It will be noted, that the burner tuyeres are in advance of the lowest traverse line of the drum (see Fig. 3), and that the spraying pipe is located between the tuyeres and the lowest traverse line of the drum. This arrangement enables the water or other liquid ,rod rocker or controlling device being suitable topermit this movement. The connection, for example, between the sliding rod 6 and the rocker arm e (in 1) may be made by a ball and socket joint 6 and the supply and waste pipes e and 6 may have flexible joints for the same purpose. This adjustment of the spray pipe relative to 'the tuyeres is desirable, in order to keep the point of discharge from the spray-pipe in the proper position, relative to the tuyeres in their various adjustments.

The receiving end of the drum is fitted and closed by a fixed head b supported in any suitable way, as for example, from the supply pipe d, and provided with a valved feedhopperff', and a blast inlet pipe g.

The delivery end of the rotary drum is preferably open, as shown in Fig. 1, and connects by a yielding joint h h, with a breeching or hood 719, for conducting off thevolatilized metals, products of combustion and other gases, to a suitable condenser. As shown, the yielding joint is secured by the grooved rim h, in the groove of which is loosely seated the joint ring it, which fits the exterior of the drum. The ores, after having been treated in the furnace, are delivered from the drum into an offleading chute 7c. The furnace is designed for continuous feed from the receiving to the delivery end, the ore being subjected to the heating and chilling actions in its progress from the receiving to the delivery end of the drum. For this purpose, the drum may be tilted on its longitudinal axis, by the construction hitherto described, to give to the same any desired pitch, according to the rate of travel, at which it i may be desired to have the ore move through the drum. As shown, the drum is tapering, being in the form of the frustum of a cone; but it is of course obvious, that it might be a cylinder, and the desired pitch be given by adjusting the receiving end of the platform a.

An important result, attained bymaking the drum in the form of the frustum of a cone,is, that the gases on their passage through the drum will be permitted to expand, thus accelerating the travel of the same. r In treating some kinds of ores, it may be outflow of the ore from the drum; and for this purpose, the breeching h may be provided with a slide-keeper between which and the rim It may be held a slide W, at the delivery end of the drum. For supplying the ore to the feed-hopper f f, an elevator f f may be provided.

The operation is as follows:-The ores are introduced at the head of the drum through the feed-hopper ff. Supposing the burner to be supplied under pressure with a fuel adapted to produce an oxidizing flame, that the spray pipe is charged with wateror other liquid solution under pressure, and that the drum is in motion, and at the proper pitch;

then, under the rotation of the drum, the ore will be carried up by the drum until gravity overcomes the centrifugal force, when it will roll back past the tuyeres and through the flames, and at this time, thevalves of the spraying device will be moved to deliver onto the ore the spray of water or other liquid solution. The stepped surface of the drum assists in carrying up the ores and is especially serviceable for taking up the fine or powdered material, to a point where, when it rolls back,it will be subjected to the action of the flames, and the water from the sprayer. Under the rotation of the drum, the ore will thus be continuously agitated and heated over and over again to a high degree of heat, which may be regulated to any desired temperature, and will be intermittently chilled by the water or other liquid solution from the spraying device; and, at the same time, it will be worked from the receiving to the delivery end of the drum rendering the action continuous, if so desired. In this way, all the beneficial results of the old and well-known process, outlined in the introductory description, will be secured. All the volatilizable products, at the given temperature, will be volatilized, the oxidizable materials will be oxidized by the oxidizing flame, and the refractory ingredients will be reduced into a condition suitable for milling and amalgamation, and other subsequent treatments. The volatilized products, as well as the products of combustion will be forced out, by the blast from the pipe g, at the head of the drum into the breeching 12, and thence to a condenser and separator, not herein shown.

In the diagram Fig. 14, the roll line of the desirable to temporarily stop or check the the drum and below its axis, for the, direct application of flames to the ores, whereby,

ore, under the action ofthe drum is approxi ma-tely represented by the arrowsheadedv line a.

For inspection and for the ad mission of a natural draftto the burners;iffdesired,,the

fixed front end 11 of the drum may be provided with lidded'pe'ep holes 72 7 If the slide 10 be used, at; the delivery end sliding lock-bar k or in any other suitable Way.

An efficient method and apparatus for separating out the by-produots, which are passed off, in volatile form, from a furnace of the kind herein shown,is disclosed in a compan-- ion application, filed byme of even date here with, Serial No. 471,566, entitled Method of and apparatusfor separating volatilizedmetals from other commingled gases My invention has been herein shown and described, as applied for roasting raw ores;

but the same apparatus is equally applicable for treating what, are known as concentrates. These concentratesflas they come from the stampingrnill are highly refractory and often contain considerablequant-ities of the precious metals. By treating the same with my apparatus, theseconcentrat'es may beput in condition for free milling.

What I claim, anddesire to secure by Let,- ters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1; Afnrnace for treating refractory ores or similar materials, comprising a rotary drum, I

arranged for supporting and agitating the ores on its inner surface, and aburher, within the drum and below its axis, for the direct application of flames to the pies, substantially as described. g

2. Afurnace for treating refractory ores or similar materials, comprising a rotary drum arranged for supporting and agitating the ores on its inner 7 surface and a burner arranged longitudinally in the drum and below its axis for the directa'pplic ation of flames to the, ore, substantially as described. I

3. Afnrnace for treating refactoryores and similarmaterials, comprising a rotarydrum, having its ore-bearing surface inclined downward from its receiving to its delivery end and a burner arranged longitudinally within axis of the drum, for the direct application of flame to the ore, and means carried by said platform for supporting and revolving drum, substantially as described. y g V 5. The combination with the; revolving said drum, arranged to support andagitategpthe"Q oreson its interior; surface, crane h manity side the drum consisting of a fuel supply pipe,

p I drum, substantially asde'scribed. r V p ofthe drum, it maybe held in its seatb-yafi tially as described.

'7. Thecombination with the revolving h 6. The combination with the rotary drum,

of the fuel supplypipe around which thedrum drum, arranged for supporting and agitating for the direct application of flames to the ore,

and a spraying pipe within the drum for the ores on its interior surface, of a burner j treating the ores with watertor liquid solu-w tions, substantially as described.

8....The' combination with the revolving drum, arrangedfor supporting and agitating the ore,.on its interior-surface, of aburner inside the-drum, for'thedirect application :of

flame to the ores, a sprayingpipe insidethe.

- cylinder provided with valved discharge open ingsand avalve controlling devicearranged' to be operated by some of the moving parts,

Withan intermittent action, substantially as 7 described.

9. The combination With the revolving drum, arranged on a downward pitch, for sup? porting and agitating the ores and working i the same from its receiving to its delivery: end, of a'b'urner inside the drum, for thedr rect application" of flames to the ores, a spraying pipe inside of the drum, extending the entire length of the same, provided withval-Ved discharge openings spaced apart from each other, anda valve controller, arranged to be operated by some of the moving parts, sub:

stantially as described.

IOE

.10. The combination with the waiting" drnm,-ofthe burner inside the drum, for the direct application of flamesto the ores, the; w m

spraying pipe inside the drum provided with the valved discharge openings, a common valve-rod, under tension, to normally hold the said valves in their closed positions anda valvecontrollercomprising a rocker arranged to be operated by the drum, with an intermittentaction, and provided with connections to saidvalve rod, substantially as described.

pipe inside the drum provided with perforated valve seats and rotary valves, normally cover ng said perforated seats, and connected I .bya common rod, for uncovering the Whole or any partof the discharge openings through said seats,substantiallyasidescribed; J

' llLfThe combination with the rotary drum, of theburner inside the drum, the spraying arranged forsu pportin g and agitating the ore on its interior surface, of the fuel supply pipe inside said drum and longitudinally thereof,

provided with radially projecting tuyeres and a spraying pipe with valved discharge openings arranged parallel with and to one side of the tuyeres, substantially as described.

14. The combination with the rotary drum, of the longitudinal fuel supply pipe provided with radially extended tuyeres inside the drum and adjustable into different positions, and the longitudinal spraying pipe provided with valved discharge passages and also adjustable into different positions relative to the tuyeres, substantially as described.

15. The combination with the rotary drum, arranged as described, of the interior fuel supply pipe extending longitudinally of the drum and provided with radially projecting tuyeres set in advance of the lowest traverse of the drum and the spraying pipe with valved discharge openings inside the drum and set to discharge between the tuyeres and the lowest traverse line of the drum, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

16 The combination with the rotary drum arranged for supporting and agitating the ore on its interior surface, of the longitudinal fuel supply pipe inside the drum and the pair of yoke-like radial tuyeres projecting from said supply pipe, one in advance of but near to the other, and having their respective discharge or burner openings in staggered arrangement with respect to each other, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

17. The combination. with the rotary drum arranged for supporting and agitating the ores on its interior surface, of a burner inside the drum, for the direct application of flames to the ores, a breeching for conducting oh? the products of combustion and the volatilized metals and a blast pipe applied to the receiving end of the furnace, above the burner for driving off said gases, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FESSENDEN O. BUTTERFIELD.

Witnesses:

J AS. F. WILLIAMSON, EMMA F. ELMORE. 

